Revelation 15: Victorious by Death

Today’s short chapter is largely a preparatory one. Seven angels come forward to the heavenly temple to receive bowls filled with the final acts of judgment from God. These will be poured out in the next chapter. Also in the scene is a collection of people standing beside a glassy sea.

There, by the glassy sea, stood the people who had won the victory over the monster and over its image, and over the number of its name. (14:2)

What strikes me is that this group are those who have won. But remember this is a heavenly scene. They have won but they won by dying. Death is what brought them victory. Being willing to die is how they won. The battle was for their souls. Would they give up their integrity and faith to stay alive through compromise or would they show the forces of evil that God has greater power over their souls than that. Every time a person is willing to suffer rather than give in to compromise another victory is won for the Lamb.